Safety Comes First when Decorating Your Parent’s Home for the Holidays
Senior Care in Plano – Common Hazards are Often Forgotten when it Comes to Decorating for the Holidays
The holiday seasons are fast approaching. You may not want to think about it, but Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and even New Year’s are just around the corner. That means it is time to begin shopping for food, you have’s, and making preparations for the season, if you celebrated. For individuals who rely on senior care, interior decorations for the holidays may be an important aspect for them. If it is, then making sure that they are safe with their interior decor is essential.
Below are some tips to keep in mind when decorating your senior loved one’s house for the holidays:
1. Choose a fake Christmas tree.
If the elderly individual celebrates Christmas, they likely enjoy having a Christmas tree in their house. Having a real Christmas tree can provide warmth and ambience as well as a fragrance that can’t be emulated by any can or spray. However, real Christmas trees can be hazardous.
Several decades ago, Christmas tree lights would often burn hotter than they do now and that created an incredible fire hazard with regard to live trees. Today, even though Christmas tree lights are safer, there is still a significant risk with regard to using a real Christmas tree.
It is best to invest in a quality fake Christmas tree to reduce any issues with regard to fire.
2. Hang that menorah with care.
While you don’t actually hang a menorah, many people of Jewish descent will place a menorah in the window. It’s important to be careful, even if it is an electric one, especially when drapery or curtains are placed around them at night. Make sure that the menorah is off and has been off for at least half an hour before the drapes or blinds are closed over the window. If the bulbs are hot when the drapes are closed, it can burn a hole in the drapery and if the drapery is flammable, then you have an incredible fire hazard to contend with.
3. Be careful when decorating around the fireplace.
If the fireplace is used throughout the winter, adding decorations that can become overheated and ignite is something to consider. Many people incorrectly assume that things will only burn when they touch flames.
That is not why objects burn. Objects burn because they reach their combustion point with regard to temperature. So if something has a low combustion point and is close to an open fire, if it just heats up to the temperature it could ignite.
4. Hang the stockings with care.
Rely on safety hooks and unbreakable ornaments for the tree and hang the stockings on hooks that will not fall down, especially if the senior plans on stuffing the stockings with surprises for kids.
When it comes to senior care, these are a few tips that can help the elderly individual stay safe this holiday season while decorating for family.
